Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Just a Dash Too Few....

I've always been of the mindset that observation beats pontification any day. To observe allows the benefit of maybe not opening mouth before brain is engaged, and further benefits in that what is observed often allows that which might finally be spoken to be accurate. The observation that is being brought to light is the result of at least 5 years of time spent watching, analyzing and testing before it is presented now. This deals with a group of folks that are loosely clumped into what may be called "Messaventacism". Messianic leanings, but unfortunately compromised by Adventist doctrines blended into a mostly homogeneous group of those who call themselves Jews in the sense of Revelation 3:9, but are not. The specific marker that seems to permeate their ranks (and others) is the use of the dash. Drawing from the rabbinical traditions (not God's law) they will not write the Name of God, choosing instead to place a dash between the letters or replacing one vowel with the same in the manner of the ancient writers who placed the YHWH in Hebrew without vowels to avoid writing the Name of God. They apply the same practice to the word "Lord", producing a L-rd instead where written. This stems apparently from their desire to NOT make God's Name common (or use in vain) by writing it on paper or other material that may be ultimately discarded, whether purposely or intentionally. Herein is the rub...the said messiventist will apply this principle as well to their writing, typing or sign making with everything BUT the Name Yeshua, which is their determined Name for Jesus. Jesus, being the Greek transliteration for this chosen word that they have adopted, despite its lack of historical basis. It is the Hebrew word for salvation, which is what Jesus is and would provide, but there is ample evidence of several other forms of this word, such as Yehoshua, Joshua, etc that also fit the bill. That is not what is in view here however; what IS in view is the fact that they will arbitrarily apply this principle to the words, God and Lord, but leave out the Name of the Son of God. This is unfortunately a reflection of the Adventist side of the camp, drawing from its beginnings, denying the deity of Christ. Acknowledging His "Son of God" position in the same manner in which they view their own "sons of God-ship". How can one leave out the very One who died for them, rose for them and lives for them in their acknowledgement of God? Only by reducing who they believe Him to be in their own hearts and minds. This same principle is also reflected in those of the more Messianic side of this group, who apply various "pick and peck" principles of Jewish law to their religious practice, sheltering it in the name of cultural traditions, but holding it forth as a proof of their religiousocity. You'll see these, who will loudly proclaim their disgust with the Gentile (& pagan, in their mind) observation of the birth of Christ that we call Christmas, (and all that surrounds it, such as Christmas songs, gifts, etc), singing in the Christmas choir of the church that pays their salary. They will Twitter and Facebook to no end to show what can and cannot be eaten during Passover preparations to avoid the Leaven spoken of in the book of Exodus, but not sticking to what Exodus says, depending instead on the non-inspired rabbinical musings of the last 2000 years, claiming grace when they themselves get hungry for prohibited food, but using the previous stated "guidelines" to condemn anyone who might happen to eat a kernel of popcorn or a hot dog (depending, of course on whether they're holding to the Sephardi or the Ashkenazim rabbinical traditions of man). Others, in similar manner will to tell that all but they are in danger of Hell's fire for even thinking that Jesus could possibly have been born in December, trotting out much in their internet fueled research (unfounded statements of webpage proclamations) as they place the Name of "Yeshuah" on a Happy Birthday tarp that will then be taken down, folded and stored in a mouse and vermin infested garage. They will deny the Son of God His deity, but proclaim their own righteousness as they gather together to celebrate the feasts and days, which the Word of God clearly states are nothing but "Shadows" of what is to come, of which Christ is the Substance!! They will choose to ignore the entirety of the Word of God and our responsibility to it, by hiding behind the precepts of Law already fulfilled and fading away in the light of the Glorious Gospel...yep, Jesus Christ. Sadly, they will draw some to themselves, having a pretense of religion...as the Holy Spirit thru Paul wrote for us in Colossians 3:20-23 "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." So perhaps, in the course of life and the observation of it I find that a very necessary understanding must be priority and central for my life and that is this: Jesus is the Son of God, He is God, always was God, always will be God in full authority, power, honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit as the Godhead. If the Father deserves a dash in His Name to avoid the trivialization that man so often does, then so does the Son and for that matter, so does the Holy Spirit. But on the other hand, I would choose to just place God in His place in my life; King, Savior, Lord and forever God without a single dash!! First place, everyday, all day, and forever!